Iron Widow – review

Author: Xiran Jay Zhao
Series: Iron Widow (#1)
Publication date: September 21, 2021
Genre: YA science fiction
My rating: 5/5 stars

The first thing I’m going to say about this book is that I cannot believe it took me so long to pick it up. It’s been on my shelf since 2021 (I received it in my second-ever Illumicrate box), and yet I didn’t pick it up until the very end of 2022, at the urging of several good friends of mine. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Iron Widow has all sorts of great things: feminism, battle robots, characters with dubious morals, queer representation, revenge, sarcasm, Chinese historical references, and more. Often dark but never bleak, this is a page-turner that you don’t want to miss.

The Dragon’s Promise – blog tour

Author: Elizabeth Lim
Series: Six Crimson Cranes (#2) (review of #1 available here)
Publication date: August 30, 2022
Genre: YA fantasy

After absolutely loving Six Crimson Cranes last year–it was in my top 10 reads of the 2021–I was beyond thrilled to be chosen as part of the blog and Bookstagram tour for the sequel. I haven’t had a chance to read this one yet–back-to-school season caught up with me–but I am so excited for it! My pre-ordered copy from my local indie is currently staring at me from my living room table, begging me to pick it up, so…that will definitely happen soon. In the meantime, here’s some info on the book for you, dear reader:

Sundial – blog tour (feat. giveaway!)

Author: Catriona Ward
Publication date: March 1, 2022
Genre: horror

As some of you may recall (at least those of you who follow me on other platforms–I’ll admit, I’ve been slacking somewhat on this blog, though my Bookstagram and Goodreads are far more lively), The Last House on Needless Street was one of my favorite books of 2021. With its creepy atmosphere, shocking twists, and psychological complexity, I was completely hooked–so, of course, when I heard that the author had a new book coming this year, I had to read it and promote it as widely as possible. School has been absolutely destroying me lately, so this is just a promo post, but it does have a giveaway at the end, and more info on what is sure to be a chilling, mind-bending read. Stay tuned for a review from me in the very near future, too–I just started the book, and I’m already hooked!

Game On – blog tour (diverse short stories and more!)

Edited by: Laura Silverman
Publication date: January 18, 2022
Genre: YA anthology, short stories

Hello, friends! It’s ya girl, back at it again with another blog tour–this time for a diverse YA anthology that is all about games, from board games to sports to video games and more. If you’ve ever gotten a little too competitive, or if you’ve ever felt a deep and abiding love for your game of choice, this book is for you. I can’t wait to read it (seriously, it has some real rockstar authors on that lineup), but in the meantime, check out this post and the rest of the stops on this tour for more info on this book!

Ace Reads 2: Electric Boogaloo (10 more books with asexual representation!)

Hello, friends! It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything on here that is actually from me, as opposed to a review or tour. But with 2022 officially underway, I wanted to do a brief recap of some of my 2021 reading. Apparently, my list of all the ace books I’ve read so far got super popular near the end of last year (if anyone knows how/why it took off, please let me know, because I’m as surprised as you). This past year, I read ten more books with asexual representation, and so, staying true to the format of that old post, I wanted to share those with you as well!

Obligatory disclaimer: while I am ace (and somewhere on the aromantic spectrum–labels are confusing, man), and therefore am an OwnVoices reviewer for this type of content, the ace experience is not a monolith. I try to keep my assessments of these books as objective as possible, but in my final “notes” on each of them (especially on the quality of representation), I’m purely expressing my own opinion. If you felt differently about any of them, feel free to comment and let me know!

On a related note, part of my reading goal for 2022 is to read at least 15 books with ace representation (for any and all ace spectrum identities, including demi, gray-ace, and so on). If you have any I haven’t read yet and want to suggest some for me, I’m always looking for more.

[Edit: for part 3 of this series, featuring all the ace books I read in 2022, click here!]

Blood, Fire & Mercy – blog tour

Author: Christina Davis
Series: Da’Valia Trilogy (#2)
Publication date: November 10, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy

Hello friends! It’s ya girl, back at it again with another blog tour, this time for Blood, Fire & Mercy by Christina Davis! I’m so happy to be helping the team at TBR and Beyond Tours to promote this indie title. While I haven’t yet had a chance to crack it open yet–gotta love the stress of finals season, right?–it sounds absolutely amazing, featuring some of my favorite things, including a thief-girl main character, dragons, betrayals, and revenge. Several of my friends read and loved the first book in this series, and I’m looking forward to getting to join their love of it soon as well. Now, read on for some more about the book and the author!

Untethered – blog tour (including a giveaway!)

Author: KayLynn Flanders
Series: Shielded #2 (click here for my review of book 1)
Publication date: July 20, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy

Hello, friends! Here we are with another blog tour for the lovely folks at TBR and Beyond Tours! Today’s book: Untethered by KayLynn Flanders, the sequel to Shielded, which was one of those “this is quite good, why is nobody reading it?” kind of books from last year. While Shielded followed the princess Jennesara, this sequel follow’s Jenna’s brother, as well as another kingdom’s princess whom Jenna befriended in book 1. These new main characters are quite different from Jenna, but they are no less lovable, and the back-and-forth of their dual-perspective narration lends a new dynamic to the story. With rogue mages, secret journeys, court intrigue, assassination attempts, and more, this is certainly a worthwhile follow-up. Stick with this post to the end for information on how you can win a copy of this book for yourself, too!

Six Crimson Cranes – blog tour (ARC review + lovely quotes)

Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publication date: July 6, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
My rating: 5/5 stars

Six Crimson Cranes was one of my most-anticipated reads of this year–and, I am pleased to report, it exceeded my expectations. Taking the bones of Western fairytales (especially “The Wild Swans”) and reshaping them in an Asian-inspired world brimming with its own unique mythologies, Elizabeth Lim has created a tale that feels at once classic and wholly original. Read through for my review, info on the author, and some quotes from the book, as well as my latest Bookstagram post about this beauty!

A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions – blog tour (ARC review)

Author: Sheena Boekweg
Publication date: June 1, 2021
Genre: YA historical fiction
My rating: 4/5 stars

Take everything you knew about the 1920s, add in a secret network of women who manipulate the men in power to achieve social change, make it a little bit queer, write it with so many highlight-able lines, and you have…something pretty darn close to this book. The best way I can describe this book is that it is exactly what it is pitched as, and simultaneously way more than I expected. With strong female friendships, body positivity, ace and trans rep, and plenty of badass women (fighting with words and manipulation mostly, but still capable of fighting!), this was a seriously cool book.

Fire with Fire – blog tour (ARC review + quotes + giveaway!!)

Author: Destiny Soria
Publication date: June 8, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
My rating: 4/5 stars

It seems like dragon books are making a comeback, and folks, I am here. for. it. Fire with Fire blends a contemporary setting in rural Tennessee (complete with usual teenage relationship difficulties) with a hidden world of dragons and sorcerers. With strong themes of sisterhood, loyalty, and defining yourself, this was a captivating read with a pair of compelling protagonists. In this post, you’ll find a review, some quality quotes, and–you guessed it–a giveaway for a copy of your own. Let’s go!